The Haines Borough Planning Commission rejected plans for a commercial dog-boarding kennel on Lutak Road last week after receiving more than a dozen comments opposing the idea.
The commission voted 7-0 to deny Jonathan Richardson’s application for a conditional use permit to build and run a commercial dog kennel in the Tanani Bay residential subdivision.
Richardson, who has lived in Haines one year, said he intended to build a 25-by-30-foot building on his property for the kennel, where he expected to board about eight dogs at a time. In addition to overnight boarding, Richardson was hoping to offer a “doggie daycare” service and dog grooming.
“I don’t see why it should be anticipated as any big deal. It’s just going to be a handful of dogs,” Richardson said.
Richardson’s neighbors, however, thought the development would be a big deal. During the public comment period, neighbors hammered the plan, pointing to potential noise issues, waste and drainage problems.
“I spent a lot of money on my vacation home to enjoy the peace and quiet of Haines,” resident Paul Deuling told the committee. “Dog barking will be an issue and I don’t want to deal with it after the fact, as I doubt little will be done.”
When asked by planning commissioner Rob Miller how he intended to deal with barking dogs, Richardson said he was willing to use bark collars. “We will control it. I’m not going to listen to barking dogs,” Richardson said.
An issue for many of Richardson’s neighbors was how he cares for his own dogs. They recounted stories of being threatened and followed by Richardson’s four dogs, which they said are allowed to roam around the neighborhood, road and nearby beach.
“The Richardsons have a very poor record with their dogs in that they allow them to run loose with no supervision. Their dogs have ‘packed’ and threatened several neighbors. Until they can properly care for their own dogs, they don’t need to be in charge of other animals,” said Karen Pospisil, a Lutak Road resident.
Several residents recounted calling police and the Haines Animal Rescue Kennel because of Richardson’s dogs. They asked how Richardson could be entrusted to take care of dogs belonging to others when he couldn’t keep control of his own.
“Because of the threat Mr. Richardson’s dog pack poses to pedestrians and other dogs, my wife will no longer walk from our residence toward the ferry terminal, but chooses to walk towards town and away from the potential threat that this pack of dogs has instilled in the neighborhood,” Michael Binkie said.
Commissioners were unanimous in their opposition of the issuance of the conditional use permit for the kennel. Commissioner Brenda Josephson said Haines needs some sort of dog boarding facility, but a residential subdivision on Lutak Road isn’t the right spot. Commissioner Miller agreed.
“I like the idea of a kennel in town. I don’t like the idea of it in my neighborhood,” Miller said.
Commission chair Rob Goldberg chastised Richardson for his apparent lack of control over his dogs, and the subsequent fear it bred among his neighbors.
“If I had been in your position, after the first time the police came to my home, I would have erected a fence to keep my dogs contained,” Goldberg said. “Your dogs have caused fear among your neighbors. These people are afraid to go out of their homes and walk. They’re afraid to walk their dogs. You’ve allowed four dogs to just roam around unsupervised.”
Goldberg marveled at the volume of comments the commission received on the permit, saying he had only seen more input on the controversial heliport on Chilkat Lake Road.
Commissioner Heather Lende also addressed the magnitude of comments. “I think we’ve had just about every owner in the area be opposed to it, except for Mr. Richardson. And that, to me, as a representative of the people, seems to carry great weight, and we should listen to it,” Lende said.
Richardson can appeal the planning commission’s decision to the assembly.